On Tuesday night at Historic Riggs Field, the Clemson Mens Soccer team were handed a 1-0 loss to Queens
Queens entered the matchup riding a three-game winning streak with three consecutive clean sheets against lower-ranked competition while Clemson looked to reassert its dominance on home turf.
Clemson opened the match in a way anyone who watches Clemson Mens Soccer would know, dictating play through patient possession and forcing Queens deeper and deeper into their own defensive third. Despite the pressure, the Tigers remained scoreless through the first 10 minutes, while the Royals found space on the counter, sparking flashbacks of the recent 2-1 upset loss to VCU.
Those concerns proved justified in the 16th minute. A strike from Vitor Baptistelli was parried away by Clemson goalkeeper Joseph Andema, but the rebound fell directly to junior midfielder Cole Pumpian, who buried the chance into an open net to give Queens a 1-0 lead.
This was not to say Mike Noonan wasn’t trying to put a wake up call into this team, In the 32nd minute Noonan had seen enough making a quadruple change to wrap out the half with Seamus Streelman, Abdou Mane, Kyle Pennant and James Kelly replacing Gabriel Santuari, Nathan Richmond,Remi Okunlola, and Arthur Duquenne. In the 40th minute 3 more personnel changes came, and one more in the 43rd, making that 8 different players subbed in at the end of the first half for the Tigers. This included Mason Jimenez being played in a center back role, and Wahabu Musah who occasionally is seen on the left side shifting into a central striker. A concerning statistic at that, but rotation looked much needed as United had to get some shots firing, only mustering 3 opposed to the Royals 7 in the first half.
Gyan, Musah, and Richmond all had golden opportunities in the 2nd half but with no final product to account for.
That was all she wrote for the second half, with the game ending a bleak 1-0 win for the Royals, marking their fourth 1-0 win in a row and Clemson’s third winless game in a row.
Next up for Clemson Mens Soccer is a faceoff against the California Golden Bears on Friday, September 19th. Kickoff is slated for 6 P.M.
Injuries
Magnason had a nag in his right foot near the end of the game, slight limp, should be fine.
Cautions and Suspensions
QUE 57’ YC Otto Gustaffsson Unsporting
CLU 65’ YC Mason Jimenez Unsporting
CLU 66’ YC Abdou Mane Unsporting
CLU 77’ YC Daniel Bunk Unsporting
QUE 78’ YC Jahmahl Brown Unsporting
QUE 80’ YC Hakon Halldorson Unsporting
QUE 89’ YC Rodrigo Canovas Unsporting
